5 Days in Madeira: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

Get ready for an island that seems made for wandering. Madeira is a small Atlantic island with sea cliffs, peaks in the clouds, gardens full of flowers and its famous levadas (old irrigation channels with walking paths beside them). This five-day plan starts with an easy day in Funchal, then has three big nature days and a gentle last day. You’ll see the main sights without rushing from one to the next.

The pace is moderate to active. You’ll walk a lot, and three of the five days start early. This plan suits you if you’re happy with half-day hikes and long, scenic drives. If you prefer slower travel, swap any hike for a garden, a viewpoint or a long lunch by the sea. Madeira works well either way.

At a glance

Day	Area	Highlights
1	Funchal and Monte	Old Town, farmers’ market, cable car to Monte, Monte Palace Tropical Garden, basket sledges
2	Central peaks and north coast	Pico do Areeiro, PR1 trail to Pico Ruivo, Santana, optional Balcões viewpoint walk
3	West and north-west	Rabaçal levadas (25 Fontes and Risco), Porto Moniz natural pools, São Vicente
4	East	Ponta de São Lourenço trail, Machico, Garajau
5	Funchal and south coast	Madeira Botanical Garden, Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão at sunset

Day 1: Funchal Old Town and Monte

Morning

Welcome to Madeira! Ease into the island with a happy, unhurried morning in Funchal’s Old Town (Zona Velha). Begin at the Mercado dos Lavradores, the city’s busy farmers’ market, for a first look at tropical fruit, flowers and fish. Opening hours weren’t confirmed for this guide, so check the official site before you go. Then walk a few minutes east into the Old Town lanes, where Rua de Santa Maria is known for its painted doors.

The lower station of the Funchal cable car (Teleférico do Funchal) is right here in the Old Town. Visit Madeira says the ride up to Monte takes about 15 minutes and climbs roughly 560 metres, with big views over the city and the bay.

Pre-book: buy an e-ticket on the official cable car website. E-tickets are valid for 60 days after purchase, and you can go straight to boarding. The operator’s current prices are EUR 22 return and EUR 16 one way. Children up to 6 ride free, and ages 7 to 14 get 50% off. The cable car runs daily from 08:45 to 17:45, except on Christmas Day.

Afternoon

At the top, spend a couple of hours in the Monte Palace Tropical Garden. The garden recommends 1.5 to 2.5 hours for a visit. Adult tickets are EUR 18, and children up to 14 get in free with an adult. From October to March the garden opens daily from 09:00 to 18:00. From April to September it opens from 09:00 to 19:00. It’s closed on 25 December, and last entry is at 17:00. You can buy tickets online or at the ticket offices.

Afterwards, walk over to Monte’s hilltop church and watch the traditional wicker basket sledges (carros de cesto) set off downhill. We couldn’t confirm the ride price on an official source, so check it at the starting point. The sledges don’t go all the way back to central Funchal, so plan a bus, taxi or ride-hail for the last stretch. If you skip the sledge, the EUR 22 return cable car ticket is the better deal.

Evening

Back in the Old Town, choose a restaurant terrace for dinner. It’s a good night to try Madeira classics like espetada (beef skewers), black scabbard fish and bolo do caco bread, followed by a glass of Madeira wine.

Day 2: Peaks, Pico Ruivo and the north coast

Morning

Today is the big one, and it is spectacular. Pico do Areeiro is one of Madeira’s highest points. The PR1 Vereda do Areeiro trail follows a dramatic ridge from there to Pico Ruivo, the island’s highest summit.

Pre-book (essential): every classified trail run by the regional forestry institute (IFCN) now needs a time-slot booking on the SIMplifica portal. You can only book online, not at IFCN offices. The 2026 fees for visitors are:

• PR1 full trail: EUR 10.50 (includes PR1.1 and PR1.2)
• PR1 only as far as the Pedra Rija viewpoint: EUR 4.50
• Children aged 12 or under don’t pay, but they still need to be registered.

An IFCN press note reported in May 2026 said the full PR1 would reopen on 26 June 2026 after works. Trail status can change at any time, so check the official trail-status map on Visit Madeira before you book.

To reach Pico do Areeiro for sunrise, you’ll usually need to drive or join a licensed tour. If you’d like to try by bus, check the SIGA journey planner. PR1 is a one-way route, not a loop. You can walk back the same way, or arrange a pickup at Achada do Teixeira, where PR1.2 to Pico Ruivo starts. Wear proper shoes, carry water and layers, and expect steep steps.

Afternoon

Head down to the green north coast and Santana, known for its small triangular thatched houses. It’s a nice place for a late lunch.

If you still have energy on the drive back towards Funchal via Ribeiro Frio, the short PR11 Vereda dos Balcões leads to a viewpoint over forested valleys. You’ll need a separate SIMplifica booking (EUR 4.50), because PR1 doesn’t count towards the combined day rate.

Evening

Head back to Funchal for an early night. Tomorrow is another long, beautiful day.

Day 3: Rabaçal levadas and Porto Moniz

Morning

Get ready for waterfalls and fairy-tale forest paths: drive up to the Rabaçal area on the Paul da Serra plateau for two of Madeira’s favourite levada walks. PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes goes from Rabaçal to the 25 Fontes lagoon, and PR6.1 Levada do Risco goes from Rabaçal to the Risco waterfall. Both are in the municipality of Calheta.

Pre-book: reserve a slot for each trail on SIMplifica. One trail costs EUR 4.50. If you book two or more trails on the same day (not counting PR1), IFCN automatically applies a 1-day combined rate of EUR 9 at checkout. Slots fill up, and IFCN only allows about 15 minutes either side of your booked entry time, so leave Funchal early.

Afternoon

Continue to Porto Moniz on the north-west tip. Its ocean-filled volcanic rock pools make a great swimming stop when the sea is calm. Prices and entry rules for the natural pools weren’t confirmed for this guide, so check locally or on the official tourism site before you go.

Return along the north coast through São Vicente, a pretty village with views of the cliffs and the sea. Then drive south through the mountains to Funchal.

Evening

Keep dinner simple and close to where you’re staying. Mountain roads are tiring, and Visit Madeira recommends driving calmly and following road signs.

Day 4: The wild east

Morning

This is the day for wild cliffs and big ocean views. Start early at Ponta de São Lourenço, Madeira’s dry, rocky eastern peninsula. The PR8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço runs from Baía d’Abra to Cais do Sardinha, with sea views on both sides. Book your slot on SIMplifica (EUR 4.50). There’s little shade on this trail, so bring a hat, sunscreen and water.

Afternoon

Drive back west to Machico, a historic town with a sheltered bay, for lunch and a swim or a coffee by the water. Later, stop at Garajau, where the Cristo Rei statue looks out to sea. A small cable car listed by Visit Madeira runs down towards the shore. Check its current timetable and fares before you go.

Evening

Back in Funchal, take a walk along the seafront and have dinner in the centre or the Lido area.

Day 5: Gardens, Câmara de Lobos and Cabo Girão

Morning

Your last day is all about flowers, colour and sea views. Slow down with a visit to the Madeira Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico da Madeira), run by IFCN, in the hills above Funchal. Check opening hours and tickets on the official site. A separate cable car, the Botanical Garden Cable Car, links the garden with Monte if you want one more ride with a view.

Afternoon

Take a bus or taxi west to Câmara de Lobos, a colourful fishing village with boats pulled up in the bay. Walk around the harbour and enjoy a long lunch.

Evening

Finish at Cabo Girão, one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs. A glass-floored platform there lets you look straight down to the fields and ocean far below. Access rules can change, so check before you go. Sunset here is a perfect way to end the trip. Back in Funchal, toast your trip with a last glass of Madeira wine.

Getting there and getting around

Airport to Funchal. Visit Madeira lists four options: Aerobus, taxi, transfer or rental car. By road the trip takes around 20 to 25 minutes. Uber and Bolt also operate on the island.

• Aerobus: SIGA, the regional transport portal, lists an adult ticket at EUR 6.70 (child EUR 3.30). With a pre-purchased GIRO card, the Aerobus fare is EUR 5.55. The 2026 timetable shows daily departures from the airport between 08:30 and 22:00, with fewer buses at weekends. The bus stops at many hotels on the way, and the full route to Praia Formosa takes about 50 minutes. There’s no service on Christmas Day.
• Taxi: Visit Madeira lists two taxi associations: AITRAM (291 765 760) and Táxis Madeira (291 764 476). You can also book Táxis Madeira online. Agree the fare with the driver or company before you set off.

Buses and the GIRO card. Buses in Funchal and around the island use the rechargeable GIRO card, which costs EUR 0.50. These are the 2026 fares from Horários do Funchal and SIGA:

Ticket	Price
On-board single, within one municipality	EUR 2.05
On-board single, between municipalities	EUR 2.65
Pre-purchased single on GIRO (municipal / intermunicipal)	EUR 1.45 / EUR 2.00
Municipal day ticket, 1 day	EUR 4.95
Regional Tourist pass, 3 days	EUR 23.00
Regional Tourist pass, 5 days	EUR 29.50

The Regional Tourist pass works across the whole Madeira region, including Porto Santo.

Car hire. For sunrise at Pico do Areeiro and early trail slots in Rabaçal and Ponta de São Lourenço, a car or a licensed tour is the practical choice. Visit Madeira notes that there are no toll roads. Blue lines mark paid parking, which usually applies Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00 and Saturday from 08:00 to 14:00. Parking is free on Sundays and public holidays. Yellow lines mean no parking. You can pay at meters or with the iPark Driver app.

Where to stay

• Old Town (Zona Velha) and city centre, Funchal: best for first-timers who want restaurants, the market and the cable car close by, plus easy bus connections.
• Lido and the hotel zone west of the centre: good for families and anyone who wants a seafront promenade and pools, with Aerobus stops nearby.
• Câmara de Lobos: a quieter, more local base just west of Funchal. It’s handy for the Day 5 sunset and the drive west.
• Calheta or the west coast: suits hikers who want to be close to Rabaçal and Paul da Serra, but you’ll need a car.

Budget

These prices come from official operator pages. They cover sights, trail fees and public transport only. Flights, accommodation, meals and car hire aren’t included, so check current rates for those.

Item	Typical cost
Aerobus airport to Funchal (adult)	EUR 6.70, or EUR 5.55 pre-purchased on GIRO
GIRO card	EUR 0.50
Regional Tourist bus pass, 5 days	EUR 29.50
Funchal cable car to Monte	EUR 16 one way, EUR 22 return
Monte Palace Tropical Garden	EUR 18 (under-15s free with an adult)
Classified trail fee, per trail	EUR 4.50
PR1 Vereda do Areeiro, full trail	EUR 10.50
Combined trails, 1 day (2+ trails, excl. PR1)	EUR 9.00
Basket sledges, Botanical Garden, Porto Moniz pools	Check the official site

Heads-up

Madeira is a joy to explore, and a little preparation helps. These official warnings are worth knowing:

• Weather closes trails. Mountain conditions change fast. Visit Madeira’s walking advice is clear: in heavy rain or strong winds, don’t continue, and turn back the way you came. Plan to finish before dark, tell someone your route and when you’ll be back, and carry extra food, water and a phone.
• Rain doesn’t get you a refund. IFCN only reschedules or refunds trail bookings when the authorities officially close or restrict a trail. If you don’t hike because of rain, illness, a missed connection or a cancelled flight, you lose the fee. You can book for the same day or the next day if there’s space, so check the forecast first and book close to your hike date.
• Don’t walk closed trails. A closed classified trail won’t appear for booking on SIMplifica. Always check the official trail-status map before setting out, and stay off trails marked closed.
• The cable car can stop. The operator may change hours because of severe weather, maintenance or power cuts. If your return ride is cancelled for these reasons, you can get transport back to your starting station or a 50% refund. Eating, drinking and smoking aren’t allowed in the cabins, and staff may refuse entry to visibly drunk passengers.
• Use official taxis or ride-hail apps. Book through the taxi associations listed by Visit Madeira, or use Uber or Bolt, so you know who you’re riding with.

Practical tips

• What to book first: book trail slots first because they’re limited, then the cable car and Monte Palace.
• Closing days: the cable car and Monte Palace close on 25 December, and the Aerobus doesn’t run on Christmas Day.
• What to wear: bring layers, a rain jacket and proper walking shoes for the hiking days, even in summer. In churches, it’s polite to cover your shoulders.
• Money: Portugal uses the euro. Carry some cash for small cafés and kiosks, as well as a card.
• SIM and eSIM: if your home plan includes EU roaming, check the terms with your provider. If not, get a local SIM or buy a travel eSIM before you fly, so maps and SIMplifica bookings keep working.
• Visa and entry: Madeira is part of Portugal and the Schengen Area, so Portuguese and Schengen entry rules apply. What you need depends on your passport, so check the official Portuguese visa portal at vistos.mne.gov.pt well before you book.

FAQ

Do I need to book hiking trails in Madeira?

Yes, for the classified trails run by IFCN. Everyone must register for a time slot on SIMplifica, including children aged 12 or under, who don’t pay. Visitors pay EUR 4.50 per trail or EUR 10.50 for the full PR1. Two or more trails on the same day cost EUR 9 in total, not counting PR1.

Do I need a car for this itinerary?

Not for Days 1 and 5. For sunrise at Pico do Areeiro and early trail slots on Days 2 to 4, a rental car or a licensed tour is much more practical than the bus.

How do I get from the airport to Funchal?

Take the Aerobus (EUR 6.70 adult, or EUR 5.55 pre-purchased on a GIRO card), a taxi, a ride-hail app or a transfer. By road it takes around 20 to 25 minutes.

What happens if it rains on my hiking day?

You only get a refund or a new date if the trail is officially closed. Watch the forecast, book a day ahead or on the day if there’s space, and keep a garden day as a backup.

Is five days enough for Madeira?

Five days covers Funchal, the high peaks and both ends of the island at a comfortable pace. With more time, add the Caldeirão Verde levada or a trip to Porto Santo.